Lohrei Has Made Important Strides in His Development

BOSTON- Mason Lohrei had a season to remember for the Green Bay Gamblers.
The Wisconsin native led all USHL defensemen with 19 goals, 40 assists, 59 points, and six game-winning tallies in 48 games during the 2020-21 campaign. Lohrei also set a franchise record for points in a season by a defenseman and finished his tenure with the Gamblers ranking second in club history among defensemen with 27 goals, 69 assists, and 96 points.
It was a striking offensive uptick for the blue liner, who had notched just eight goals and 37 points in the same number of games in 2019-20. But the Bruins top pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (58th overall) believes it was his work in the defensive zone that set him apart and led him to become a force at the opposite end of the rink.

"My first year I went to Green Bay, offensively, I was kind of a wild card. I think I tried to be more offensive my first year than last year. Last year, I really focused on [defense] and playing my game in my own end and letting the rest of the game unfold," Lohrei, who was a unanimous selection to the All-USHL First Team and the league's Defenseman of the Year, said last week during Bruins Development Camp at Warrior Ice Arena.
The 20-year-old credited a conversation he had with Bruins Director of Player Development Jamie Langenbrunner at the beginning of the season as the catalyst behind his breakout campaign.
"Jamie Langenbrunner was out there the first two games and that was kind of what he preached," said Lohrei. "Went with that the rest of the year and I guess good things happen when you take care of your own end and move the puck."
With the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc on all walks of life over the past 18 months, many of the Bruins' typical scouting and development practices had to be scrapped with scouts unable to travel as freely as they had in the past and some leagues and teams (Ivy League schools and the Ontario Hockey League among them) shutting down their seasons altogether.
In most cases, those challenges forced the Black & Gold's brass to alter the ways they kept tabs on the organization's prospects, putting a much larger focus on video and virtual communication.
The USHL, however, went on as scheduled, providing Langenbrunner the opportunity to continue to monitor Lohrei's progression in person.
"I got to see him live probably six, eight times last year. [It was] one of the places in the country that was open," said Langenbrunner. "Offensively talented defenseman. Long, rangy. Continuing to add strength to him is going to be important. Definitely put some work in here this summer, both in Madison and over at Ohio State since he's been back there. Will be fun to spend some more time with him - because of the broken up year, we didn't get to spend as much as normal."

Langenbrunner believes Lohrei benefitted greatly from the USHL's lengthy schedule, which had most of the league's 14 teams playing between 50 and 55 games.
"For the way the season rolled out as far as the USHL basically playing, I believe, maybe the most games of any league in the world, it was a great opportunity for him," said Langenbrunner. "He got to play a lot of hockey, he got to play in big situations, big minutes, and really blossomed his offensive numbers. He had a good year the year before and he had a really good year this year.
"I think it was really good for him. He's gonna take the next step now to Ohio State. He's been on campus and putting in the work. I think it's been a good path for him. Could he have gone into school? Sure. I think that was a possibility, but I think the path he took is just fine for him."
Lohrei, who checks in at 6-4 and 205 pounds, agreed with Langenbrunner, citing his advancement both on and off the ice during his second full season with the Gamblers.
"Obviously, the whole point in going back was to learn and grow and get better, get bigger, faster, stronger, gain some confidence and experience," said Lohrei. "I think that's what happened. Being there for a second year was awesome, taking a leadership role and doing my best to guide other guys…and improve myself."
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney praised Boston's scouting department for its work in identifying Lohrei - who many expected to go later than the second round in last year's draft - as a player worth investing time and effort into developing.
"I'd like to give our scouts all the accolades in terms of recognizing that he had a longer path of development, that he was obviously growing, he hadn't played the position," Sweeney said while pointing out that Lohrei had previously been a forward.
"There's a bunch of things to put into context in terms of where he is today and how much room he still has. We're excited. There's a long way to go for Mason but it will be a nice challenge for him to go to Ohio State and play against bigger, stronger players…faster. But he has attributes, pace with the puck, offensive blue line confidence, running a power play, the long stick and the ability to defend.
"I think he took that to heart this week, the things that our coaches were getting him to understand how much harder it is and how much more competitive you have to be on pucks in the defensive zone but without taking away his creativity offensively and moving pucks and getting into the offensive flow."

On to Ohio State

Lohrei will take the next step in his career this fall as he heads to Ohio State. The blue liner has already visited Columbus this summer, spending 10 days on campus following the end of his season with Green Bay, and is looking forward to continuing his offseason training, which has included a focus on improving his explosiveness.
"I've been at home training over the summer," said Lohrei. "Firstly, just my first three steps, getting more explosive that way. Been doing stuff this summer with plyometrics and just explosiveness. I think that's definitely the first thing. And then my shot, too, trying to get a heavier shot, making it harder to knock me off the puck."

A Friendly Face

Lohrei isn't the only former Green Bay Gamblers star in the Bruins system. Jake Schmaltz, who was named to the All-USHL Third Team after tying for 10th in league scoring last season, was drafted by the Bruins in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft.
The 20-year-old, who is headed to the University of North Dakota this fall, grew up with Lohrei in Wisconsin and was his roommate during their time with the Gamblers.
"Jake and I used to play football together back in like fourth and fifth grade. He was my quarterback," said Lohrei. "Obviously awesome…we decided to live together for two years. Obviously, he got drafted 2019 and then 2020 was me. It's pretty cool to have someone like that - one of my best friends - just along the ride with me and we go through all the same stuff."
Schmaltz has enjoyed having a front-row seat to watch his buddy quickly develop into one of the Bruins top prospects.
"It's awesome seeing the player he is today and seeing him here," said Schmaltz. "He took a big step coming back from his first year. He's a great player. I see it every summer. I train with him. He works really hard. Sometimes he gets under appreciated.
"He does so much in the D-zone, which translates to his offensive ability. He's a great player and I'm so happy for him. He's just such a great guy and I'm glad he had a great year like he did."